MANCHESTER UNITED could be ready to cut their losses and sell on-loan frontman Federico Macheda to Stuttgart at the end of the season.

The Italian is currently playing for the German side on a temporary basis having switched from Old Trafford during the January transfer window after finding his first-team opportunities limited.

United have a number of options in attack and may be prepared to sell the 21-year-old outright, with Stuttgart director Fredi Bobic indicating that the two clubs already have an agreement in place.

"We have a gentleman's agreement with United but we have not yet found the time to meet," Bobic revealed to German newspaper Bild.

"We will clarify this in private."

Macheda has grown tired of limited first-team opportunities at United and wants to stay in Germany

We have a gentleman's agreement with United but we have not yet found the time to meet

Stuttgart director Fredi Bobic

Macheda burst onto the scene in 2009 with a stunning winner against Aston Villa after joining from Lazio two years earlier, but has yet to develop his potential further under manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Loan spells at Sampdoria and QPR followed in 2011 and 2012, while Macheda made just three substitute appearances for United this season before departing to the Bundesliga.

Since arriving at the Mercedes-Benz Arena he has been used five times by coach Bruno Labbadia, indicating he would like to stay at Stuttgart after his current deal at the club expires.

"In winter, a loan was the only option, but I knew that I might also have the chance to stay here", said Macheda.

"And if Stuttgart want to take me on a contract, I’d be very happy.

"I think that I can develop here, because here you get to work with young players."